Current Time in Japan
The exact time in Japan right now, updated every second: today's date in Tokyo, the Japanese era date, and how many hours Japan is ahead of you. Japan Standard Time (JST) is UTC+9 all year, with no daylight saving.
Last updated:
Current local time in Japan
Quick time converter
Hour-by-hour: today in Japan vs your time
| Japan | Your time () |
|---|
Uses your device clock and the time zone rules built into your browser (Asia/Tokyo). Sunrise and sunset are calculated for Tokyo (sunrise is earlier in the east of Japan and later in the west) and are accurate to about a minute.
How to use the Current Time in Japan
- Read the clock: the big digits show the current time in Japan, with the Western and Japanese era dates below.
- Check the difference: the line under the badges says how many hours Japan is ahead of you and whether it is already tomorrow there.
- Plan a call: the office-hours card and the hour-by-hour table show which of your hours overlap the Japanese working day.
- Convert a time: choose Japan → my time (or the reverse), enter a date and time and press Convert time.
- Switch format to 24-hour (common in Japan), copy the current time, or press Fullscreen for a big Tokyo clock.
Japan Standard Time at a glance
| Item | Japan |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (JST), IANA Asia/Tokyo |
| UTC offset | UTC+09:00 all year |
| Daylight saving | Not used (only 1948–1951) |
| Same time as | Seoul (KST), Pyongyang, Palau, eastern Indonesia (WIT) |
| Common clock style | 24-hour in timetables and shops (e.g. 18:30); 午前/午後 (AM/PM) in speech |
| Date format | Year-month-day, e.g. 2027年3月14日 or 令和9年3月14日 |
Japan time vs other places
Because Japan never changes its clocks, the difference only shifts when the other place starts or ends daylight saving time.
| Place | Northern winter | Northern summer |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (PT) | Japan 17 h ahead | Japan 16 h ahead |
| New York (ET) | Japan 14 h ahead | Japan 13 h ahead |
| London (UK) | Japan 9 h ahead | Japan 8 h ahead |
| Paris, Berlin | Japan 8 h ahead | Japan 7 h ahead |
| New Delhi (IST) | Japan 3 h 30 min ahead | Japan 3 h 30 min ahead |
| Beijing, Taipei | Japan 1 h ahead | Japan 1 h ahead |
| Seoul | Same time | Same time |
| Sydney | Sydney 2 h ahead (AEDT) | Sydney 1 h ahead (AEST) |
Reading Japanese dates and era years
Japan uses both the Western (Gregorian) year and an era year named after the emperor's reign. The current era, Reiwa (令和), started on May 1, 2019, so the era year is the Western year minus 2018: 2026 is Reiwa 8, 2027 is Reiwa 9. Official documents, forms and some receipts use the era year, while business and travel bookings usually use the Western year. Earlier eras were Heisei (1989–2019) and Showa (1926–1989).
Tips for calling or meeting with Japan
- From the US: late afternoon or evening in the US is the next morning in Japan, the most practical overlap.
- From Europe: early morning in Europe is late afternoon in Japan; Japan's working day ends before most of Europe's begins.
- Watch the date: Japan is ahead of the whole Americas and Europe, so a "Monday 9:00" meeting in Japan is still Sunday in the US.
- Public holidays such as Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August) and New Year (about December 29 to January 3) close many offices.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Japan in?
All of Japan uses one time zone, Japan Standard Time (JST), which is UTC+9 (IANA zone Asia/Tokyo). Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Okinawa all show the same time.
Does Japan have daylight saving time?
No. Japan used daylight saving time only from 1948 to 1951, during the post-war occupation, and has stayed on UTC+9 all year since then. Time differences with Japan change only when the other country changes its clocks.
How many hours ahead is Japan of New York?
Japan is 14 hours ahead of New York when New York is on EST (November to March) and 13 hours ahead when New York is on EDT (March to November).
How many hours ahead is Japan of California?
Japan is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles in winter (PST) and 16 hours ahead in summer (PDT). Morning in Japan is usually the previous afternoon or evening in California.
What year is it in the Japanese calendar?
The current era is Reiwa, which began on May 1, 2019 (Reiwa 1). 2026 is Reiwa 8 and 2027 is Reiwa 9. The clock above shows today's era date using your browser's Japanese calendar.
What are typical business hours in Japan?
Most offices work roughly 9:00 to 17:30 or 18:00 JST, Monday to Friday. The Tokyo Stock Exchange trades 9:00–11:30 and 12:30–15:30 JST on trading days.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.